We are constantly learning more about wines and spirits. In our search for information, here are the blogs and podcasts we have come to rely on. There are a lot of others out there, and many we have hit from time to time, but these are the ones we go back to. If you want a more exhaustive list, some of the blogs below have long lists of links you can jump off to.
Beyond the internet, there are a lot of great shows, magazines and books out there that help with general wine knowledge. At the bottom of this list, we have included those that we have enjoyed or found useful as we got into learning about wine.
Podcasts and Video Podcasts
| Wine for Newbies | The host, Bill Wilson is a bit quirky, but gives an awesome introduction to so very many topics in the wine world. Don’t mind his mangled pronunciations in the early shows. Through the magic of the internet, he gets listener feedback and corrects himself over time. www.winefornewbies.net |
| Winecast | This was the first wine podcast we started listening to, and for a time we took to referring to all podcasts about wine as winecasts, as if it were a generic term. Host Tim Elliott is all over the place, some shows are quick tastes, others are longer and more involved. Sample as you like, and try not to get overly hooked on the theme song. winecast.net |
| Grape Radio | This was the first wine podcast we started listening to, and for a time we took to referring to all podcasts about wine as winecasts, as if it were a generic term. Host Tim Elliott is all over the place, some shows are quick tastes, others are longer and more involved. Sample as you like, and try not to get overly hooked on the theme song. www.graperadio.com |
Blogs
| Brooklynguy’s Wine and Food Blog | Out of Sonoma, Tom Wark is wine industry PR professional. His commentary has a wine country slant, and hits on the wine industry, and California wine country topics. brooklynguyloveswine.blogspot.com |
| Vinography | A San Franciscan comments on wines, California, and the wine industry. www.vinography.com |
| The Pour | The NY Times’ blog on wine from Eric Asimov. There’s not much more to say, other than that it is a bit high end. thepour.blogs.nytimes.com/ |
| Tom Wark’s Fermentation | Out of Sonoma, Tom Wark is wine industry PR professional. His commentary has a wine country slant, and hits on the wine industry, and California wine country topics. fermentation.typepad.com/fermentation/ |
Television / DVD
| Wine, Food and Friends | Karen MacNeil’s show covers a series of wine topics in the right context, food. We are not all that sure about her comparisons of varietals to actors, since she clearly has a different opinion of those actors than we do, but her approach otherwise works. Find it on Amazon.com |
| Simply Wine with Andrea Immer | Her enthusiasm knows no bounds, so it is sometimes hard to tell which of the wines she is tasting is he best she has ever had. Aside from that, Andrea Immer’s show makes wine about as accessible as can be, while still getting into a lot of fun detail. We don’t have a link to buy this online, but look for it on the fine living channel. |
| The Thirsty Traveler | Kevin is more than kind-of goofy, but there are worse ways to learn about new alcoholic beverages from a guy who clearly loves to drink. The best part is that he regularly covers great sounding drinks you may never have heard of before. Find it on Amazon.com |
| Wine for the Confused | John Cleese does not disappoint. This is as entertaining as it is informative. Find it on Amazon.com |
Books
| The Wine Bible | The name bible implies its authority as well as its length. It is hard to get through, but it is a comprehensive point of reference. Find it on Amazon.com |
| Wine for Dummies | Don’t let the series fool you. This is really the best place to go to get an introduction into the wide world of wine. Find it on Amazon.com |
| World Atlas of Wine | Filled with gorgeous maps, this has served us as a reference, taking the wine world one area at a time. Find it on Amazon.com |
Publications
| Wine Spectator | We get this in a print subscription. The articles cover wine makers and vintages, and the ratings are there as a good survey of the landscape. www.winespectator.com |
| Wine Advocate | Robert Parker’s reviews. It is the industry standard for wine ratings, and works as a benchmark. erobertparker.com |
